ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday rejected reports that he would step down before the launch of impeachment proceedings against him, saying he was prepared to face the motion in parliament in a "democratic spirit". Sounds like the deal fell through. My guess would be that Nawaz screwed it bad enough to make his army buddies swing around behind him.
During a meeting with his allies in the opposition PML-Q, Musharraf made it clear that he would not quit as he had been constitutionally elected with a heavy mandate.
Last poll said 74 percent of GEO viewers wanted him to stay on. Most madrassah rats want him to leave.
He also said there was "no reason for him to step down".
He's ignoring what happened to the Bhuttos, father and daughter.
The statement came amid reports that Pakistan's ruling coalition is considering the possibility of giving the former military ruler "safe passage" if he resigns.
Zardari's probably in favor, figuring he can have Perv bumped off at liesure if he gets out of line. Nawaz isn't that bright, and he took being bounced in the first place personally, and then not being allowed back in the country at the same time and under the same conditions as Benazir even more personally.
PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his cousin Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, leader of opposition in the National Assembly, met Musharraf in his camp office in Rawalpindi to discuss the prevailing political situation, particularly the move to impeach the President.
I'd suggest an unfortunate accident for Nawaz. Not only is he the sticking point in the negotiations -- and to a large extent the driver behind impeachment -- but he's nastier even than Mr. Ten Percent. Most of the time he's openly on the jihadis' side.
Hussain and Elahi were quoted by TV channels as saying that Musharraf had told them he would not resign.
"No way, man! I like it where I'm at!"
Musharraf also said that if an impeachment motion is moved against him in the parliament, he will face it in a "democratic spirit and in accordance with the constitution".
"Unless it looks like I'm actually gonna lose, in which case it's time for a state of emergency."
The beleaguered President also made it clear that he had no intention of using his powers to dissolve parliament.
"That's clumsy. Why dissolve all of parliament when a single heart attack or an unfortunate fire can turn the tables?"
The former military ruler also lashed out at ex-premier and PML-N chief
Perv doesn't like Nawaz any more than Nawaz likes him.
Speaking in Lahore on Thursday, Sharif, who was deposed as premier by Musharraf in a bloodless military coup in 1999, had said the President should not be given a safe exit if he resigned.
"Aaaar! Stretch the bastid's neck! In the name of democracy, of course..."
The PML-Q leaders briefed Musharraf on the current situation and assured him of their party's full support in countering any impeachment motion in parliament.
And if you can't trust a Pak politician's promise, whose promise can you trust?